Friday, November 01, 2013

UK's CITV Acquires Free-To-Air Broadcast Rights To "Deadtime Stories" From DHX Media

DHX Media, a leading independent creator, producer, distributor and licensor of children's entertainment content, has announced in the following press release, from Canada NewsWire (CNW), that the Canadian media company has licensed its TV series "Deadtime Stories" (10x30mins) to CITV, the children's television arm of the free-to-air British commercial public service TV network ITV! "Deadtime Stories" recently debuted on Nickelodeon USA on Thursday 3rd October 2013. It is currently unknown if Nickelodeon's international channels, including Nickelodeon UK and Ireland/HD, are also planning to show the horror/fantasy-themed anthology television series.


"Deadtime Stories" is a all-new single-camera show which stars Jennifer Stone ("Wizards of Waverly Place") as "The Babysitter", who shares stories from her collection of creepy tales with children every week. "Deadtime Stories" is based on the popular eponymous children's book series, and chronicles kids' eerie encounters, from hauntings to monsters to supernatural occurrences.

In each episode of "Deadtime Stories", kids embark on different thrilling adventures with ghostly tales, including a grave with something unusual buried inside, a wishing game gone awry and a magic kit with irreversible tricks. The series is created by the Hillenbrand brothers and the Cascone sisters and distributed by DHX Media. David and Scott Hillenbrand have a long track record across multiple genres including extensive work on hit kids shows such as "Spider-Man (Animated)", "Sweet Valley High" and "Power Rangers", while Annette and Gina Cascone have an equally long track record of writing spine tingling tales for middle grade and young adult readers.

The property is based on the popular "Deadtime Stories" book series written by the Cascones, originally included 17 titles and has sold over 2 million copies. It is has been republished and released in hardcover, paperback and digital by major publisher Tor Books/Starscape, a division of the Macmillan Group, in addition to being carried by Scholastic.

Josh Scherba, Senior Vice President (SVP) distribution at DHX Media, told Licensing.biz that "Deadtime Stories" is "performing supernaturally well on Nickelodeon in the US"!

The "Deadtime Stories" television series adaptation is developed by Hill & Brand Kids and Mantooth Films.

Original DHX Media Press Release:

DHX Media Licences 'Deadtime Stories' to UK Broadcaster

HALIFAX, Nov. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - DHX Media, a leading independent creator, producer, distributor and licensor of children's entertainment content, has licensed its TV series Deadtime Stories to CITV in the UK. Deadtime Stories debuted in the US earlier this month on Nickelodeon.

The property is based on the book series of the same name, written by Annette and Gina Cascone, which originally included 17 titles and has sold over 2 million copies. It has been republished and released in hardcover, paperback and digital by major publisher Tor Books/Starscape, a division of the Macmillan Group, in addition to being carried by Scholastic.

About DHX Media
DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com) is a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights. DHX Media owns, markets and distributes 9,500 half hours of children's entertainment content, and exploits owned properties through its consumer products licensing business. DHX Media is recognized for brands such as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Teletubbies, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Johnny Test and Super WHY!. DHX Media's full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, (CPLG), represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Amsterdam and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

SOURCE DHX Media Ltd.

For further information:

Enquires:
David A. Regan - EVP, Corporate Development & IR
+1 902-423-0260

--Ends--

Also, from Licensing.biz:
DHX Media brings Deadtime Stories to UK screens on CITV


US show based on a book series that has sold more than two million copies

DHX Media has licensed the UK free-to-air TV rights to live action series Deadtime Stories (10x30’) to CITV.

Deadtime Stories is a live action kids and tweens programme starring Jennifer Stone of Wizards of Waverly Place.

She stars as a babysitter tells a new chilling chapter of her spooky story collection in each episode.

"We are very excited to have secured Deadtime Stories for broadcast on CITV," said Jamila Metran, head of programming for CITV.

"The spooky live action series has proved to be internationally popular and we believe CITV is the perfect UK home for the programme."

The show, based on a book series that has sold more than two million copies, debuted in the US earlier this month on Nickelodeon.

"Deadtime Stories is an eerily good live action series with a strong literary history and a creative team with an impressive track record," said Josh Scherba, SVP distribution at DHX Media.

"It is performing supernaturally well on Nickelodeon in the US and we anticipate it will similarly captivate UK fans...just don't watch it in the dark."

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